= DOMINATING = Strong performance = Solid = Watching film will be rough = AbysmalQUARTERBACK - What can I say here? Other than those ghastly interceptions, Matt Hasselbeck played well. His passing was very accurate, he seems to have a handle on audibles and checks that he didn't have last year. But some costly mistakes, especially late in the game, effectively handed the Jags a victory. 21/37 Completions, 246 yards, 2 TD's and 3 interceptions does not bode well for him in the film room this week.
OFFENSIVE LINE - Considering they just got through playing arguably the best DL in football and gave up just two sacks, I count it as a worthy effort.
Gray and Tobeck struggled with run blocking against superior physical talent, but what else is new. At least they are consistent.
RECEIVERS - I didn't see anything I would call a blatant drop, and for that I consider it to be a great day in Seahawks land. If you take out the 33 yard TD to JJ, they never did get anything very deep. Average of only 11.7 YPC.
RUNNING BACKS - Just not happy here. Shaun had a 36 yard run to pad his stats, but on a few plays he should have been more decisive, but looked hesitant. I also was very disappointed in Momo's missed block in the 4th quarter that almost put Matt in the hospital.
TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE - Although they rearely had good field position, turnovers were a killer. That's gotta stop.
DEFENSIVE LINE - I was impressed by this group. They got more pressure on Leftwich than I expected, and posted three sacks. One question, though - Where was Tubbs? One tackle was all he could muster. Please don't disappear, Marcus. We need you.
LINEBACKERS - Lofa appeared to manage the game like a veteran. Even Wistrom commented that they checked off faster in this game than they did all of last year. I also like the way he pursues the ball behind the line of scrimmage, he's very disruptive. I find it noteworthy that he played the whole game. Sharper was in a three-way tie for 2nd place in tackles. DD had some good hits, although he had some bad angles in pass coverage. But for being in their first regular season game together, I thought they played rather well as a unit, only allowing 3.9 ypc, even when they were unearthing every known-to-mankind variation of reverse to Matt Jones (the 4.3/40 superstud rookie).
DEFENSIVE BACKS - While Boulware and Hamlin appeared to play well, Trufant, Dyson, and Herndon got picked on and burned. They didn't create any turnovers either. This has to get better, especially when we have teams like the Lambs coming up. One thing, though, they were very good in run support. While 3 DB's led the team in tackles, these were often near the line of scrimmage on run plays. The result is a mixed grade, but they definitely have to improve the CB coverage.
OVERALL DEFENSIVE SCORE - While they played well enough to win, and better than I had hoped, they still have work to do.
SPECIAL TEAMS - There is not much to say here. The offense was in horrible field position most of the day. This was directly because of special teams play. They were just flat outmatched. The opening turnover was no way to start the season, either.
COACHING - Ugh, this is a tough one. What can you say when the QB throws the game away, and the DC doesn't even make the trip?
For one, sloppy play can always be tagged to coaching. They always have to bear part of the responsibilty for that.
But my biggest question is this: Why did they wait until there were 20 seconds left of the game to call their first time out? To me, that was gross negligence and clock mismanagement. They would have been better off burning those time outs while on defense to get the ball back sooner.
I realize this is stuff all of you already know. I just like to see myself type.
But anyway, onward and upward. There was enough of a foundation here to see that this is going to be a better year, it's just going to take some time to gel. These were all correctable mistakes. I look forward to tonight's preview of next week's opponent.
GO SEAHAWKS!!!
Now THAT'S a post!
ReplyDeletePosted by alba
lol no kidding...i didnt even see it up
ReplyDeletethat might be the best post in 2005...good detail...newsreporters everywhere should groan in jealousy...
Trufant has been the ass of our donkey the last 24 hours, but he did show some tackling prowess, rare ina corner (i need to work on it myself)
When I look at a post, I usually try to find what I disagree with, not to be contentious, but what is the point of me telling someone how great you are (no disrespect alba, not poking you on this post, you are right, this is a great post) That being said, the only things I question at all are RBs getting 2, and coaches getting 2. I would say the RB play was better than that, I thought Shaun was solid. His indecisiveness is his running style, and is often called patience, although I know most people want a back that is punishing, it certainly isn't always effective, and shortens the career of the runner usually. Patience is how he gets 36 yard runs. And getting 36 yard runs is what softens up the defense for more runs later in the game. I love it when they stretch out on sweeps, you know that at least one out of four of those will be a big gain, and he does have the speed/power/shiftiness to make the ones that aren't that big into forward progress at the least. That being said, coaches, I thought they were abysmal. 4 runs for the best back in the NFC in the second half? You're down by six, no need to pass every play. Is Holmgren sharing game plans with Martz? For god sake, run the ball. When your rusher has over 60 yards in the first half, against a team that gave up 100 yards to a runner 4 times last year, and zero times the year before, you got a playmaker that needs to get the ball. Had they given the ball to Shaun more often the blitzing would have slowed, the WRs would have had an easier time getting open, the takeaways would have been eliminated, and we would have had more of the clock. Take away Shauns 36 yard run, you got 2.8 ypc, not great, but decent for him. And he always breaks a couple of long runs, if given the opportunity. I cannot understand how the coaches can look at his stats, look at his great games, jeez, look at the D.O.G, and see that if you run him, then you can pass, then you can run, then you can SCORE! Stunning. They even know if they give the ball to him 25 times that they WILL WIN! How can this be? Sorry, they stunk.
ReplyDeletePosted by JoSCh
JoSCh...just for that I take back all the nice things I say about you!! LOL!
ReplyDeletePosted by alba
Actually, JoSCh, you'll probably hate me for this, but I agree with you too.
ReplyDeleteI think Shaun did everything you could expect of him...run hard, hit holes, BLOCK, even line up as a wide out.
The credit goes to the Jags D-Line (or lack of credit for our O-Line) cuz there just were no hole there to run through, especially not in the middle.
I didn't see SA miss any blitzers, or dance in the backfield too much if at all.
And yes, they should have run him more in the second half, if for no other reason but to open up the passing game.
i have to disagree with you josh. it's not that i think shawn didn't do a good job. but the running game was simply NOT WORKING. to suggest that they should run it more when their defensive line is controlling the line of scrimmage just doesn't make sense. without his lucky big run (where he went around the line) shawn had a really terrible time trying to run the ball.
ReplyDeletethe coaches saw this and decided to pass the ball more. unfortunately, that didn't work too well either. but i still think that was the right direction to go.
LOL, you guys, it's like it says in the masthead sometimes, "In here, opinions are like beaks - everybody has one".
ReplyDeleteI disagree with patience getting Alexander the 36 yard run, that cutback was made authoritatively, he ran like a banshee when he went around the corner and broke the ankles of that CB. On the other hand, there were times he hesitated RIGHT IN FRONT OF A HOLE and it closed when he got to it.
I just know he's capable of better running. This wasn't the Shaun I saw last season.
Posted by Bluefoot
this wasnt the Seahawks i saw last season.
ReplyDeletebut they sure as hell played like it...
ill give them two weeks before i give up our chances...if they lose to Atlanta, i will be concerned
Blue, you and several others of my brethern will hate me for this (or at least not be surprised by it), but on the grades I have to say the problem starts at the line of scrimmage (the O-line as mentioned earlier), not enough holes for Shaun to hit (his specialty) and then basically 'no' protection for Matt in the second half. (definitly missed Pork Chop and coulda used Spencer perhaps)
ReplyDeleteAnd here's where I get into trouble.......to comment on the Shaun thing, hwat was said by Blue about that not being the Shaun you saw last season, that's exactly the Shaun I was refereing to all off-season. He's really gotten better at the blocking and has shown better recieving skills, but he's till got the same running style, bouncing around looking for that shot at the long run.
I've seen him try to bounce it outside when he could've gotten 4 or 5 yards behind his blockers. But too often he trys too hard for the 'big run'.
I also think he suffers without having Porkchop in and I also think Tobeck's about done at Center, he was geting beaten pretty badly yesterday.
Our Right Side is as bad as our Left Side is good!!!!!
Posted by vinnyhawkalugi
Fire Warrick!
ReplyDeletePosted by Citizen K
Vinny, I'll never hate you.
ReplyDeleteWhat I said about Alexander is that he was a better runner most of last season than he was yesterday. You said he has the same running style, I said he wasn't quite as sharp yesterday. Or am I misuderstanding you?
Anyway, it seems to be that a lot of you guys forget what bad-asses the jags have on the D-line. I fully expected the line to stuggle like they did against their DT's - But you know what, I think they played against them almost as well as anyone in the league would have. Do you honestly expect that every one of our offensive linemen should just flat dominate against one of the best d-lines in football? I think they did as well as what the best lines in the NFL would do- they would seem average when they came up against them.
Which is the grade I gave them.
Posted by Bluefoot
You guys, ATL is a **** good team - If we end up 0-2, you aren't going to implode on me, are you?
ReplyDeletethey are beatable...we always practiced using Seneca as our 'Vick'...and last year we almost paralyzed Vick the few times he tried to run on us (obviously they didnt play the starters very long)...im sure we will be ready for them offensively...and maybe they will score a little more then they did against Philly...but our offense is better then Phillys (Philly has 2 weapons, we have like what? 18 thousand?!!?)
ReplyDeletei say if we win...it will be barely...and if we lose, it could be by anything...
their defense reminds me of the Patriots...no real superstar, just a bunch of good players that mesh well (Kerney is a beast though...like Harrison can be for the Pats)
notice the Eagles are 1-4 against teams that arent a 'creampuff'? the only reason they beat Atlanta in the playoffs was the experience factor...Eagles are overrated to death...that schedule made them look good last year
Posted by adp
"The credit goes to the Jags D-Line "
ReplyDeleteSure, they are good, but 60 yards in the first half, is it just a fluke? Our line and our back are solid. Coaching and play calling was the problem.
"I disagree with patience getting Alexander the 36 yard run, that cutback was made authoritatively"
He made a cutback, he was running until a hole he liked opened. I define that as patience. Maybe not you, but many wish he would simply turn up field immediately, or not turn at all, just run right up the 3 hole every time.
"the running game was simply NOT WORKING"
But 60 yards in the first half? How is that not working? Also, people seem to think that when a back averages 5 yards per carry that every carry is 5 yards. Its simply not. Its one -2, one for 3, one for 1, one for 18. See here for some good examples, Priest Holmes and Curtis Martin. I hear those guys are pretty good. Mind that Martin didn't have a very good day, Penny gave the ball up more than Hass. And you don't even have to look at Larry Johnson, he is a change of pace back that is, in my opinion, very similar and every bit as good as Shaun. We don't have the option of running our game in that way, Morris isn't very good. Nor can we go the Atl way, we don't have the talent there either.
Speaking of Atl, that game is going to be tough, considering we aren't a very good tackling team. As far as all around talent, I think we have them outgunned, but they have excellent play calling (former head coach as OC helps), diverse weapons, and one of my favorite head coaches. I hope its televised here, should be exciting anyway. And I don't hate anyone here, probably never will, although ADP and alba are suspect!!!
Posted by JoSCh